I read a LOT of accounts of thru-hikes before I stepped onto the AT for real.

So I had a lot of things to worry about long before I was called to tackle them. (And some things I didn't even know I was supposed to worry about until I was in it and my stomach was doing flip-flops!)

What a waste of time!

Everything I thought was going to kill me or that I dreaded or that I was sure I would not be able to handle were just figments. Monsters with tiny teeth that I blew out of proportion.

By the time you get to the thing that scares you, you will be ready, whether you're literally following the white blazes of the Appalachian Trail or whether you are just following the path of your life.

"They" say the Universe never gives you anything you cannot handle. I believe this to be true.

And I believe we can handle a whole lot more than we think we can.

I handled the Presidentials.

I handled setting up my tent on a platform.

Not one. Not two. But three tents on one platform at Kinsman Pond!

I handled wearing trail runners for 1,800 miles. Not the same pair.

First pair of four.

I handled Dragon's Tooth.

First time down a cliff. With tiny ledges. And rebar. In the rain. Good times.

I handled the Knife's Edge. No pictures...it was raining and I was too busy scooting along on my ass to take photos.

And I more than handled Mahoosuc Notch. In fact, it was the funnest part of the entire trail, IMHO.